SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

Table 1: Most common Sexually Transmitted pathogens and diseases they cause

Pathogen	Clinical manifestations and other associated diseases
Bacterial  infections
Neisseria gonorrhoeae	GONORRHOEA Men: urethral discharge (urethritis), epididymitis, orchitis, infertility Women: cervicitis, endometritis, salpingitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, preterm rupture of membranes, perihepatitis; commonly asymptomatic
Chlamydia  trachomatis	CHLAMYDIAL INFECTION Men: urethral discharge (urethritis), epididymitis, orchitis, infertility Women: cervicitis, endometritis, salpingitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, preterm rupture of membranes, perihepatitis; commonly asymptomatic Both sexes: proctitis, pharyngitis, Reiter’s syndrome Neonates: conjunctivitis, pneumonia
Chlamydia  trachomatis (serovars L1–L3)	LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM Both sexes: ulcer, inguinal swelling (bubo), proctitis
Treponema  pallidum	SYPHILIS Both sexes: primary ulcer (chancre) with local adenopathy, skin rashes, condylomata lata; bone, cardiovascular, and neurological damage Women: pregnancy wastage (abortion, stillbirth), premature delivery Neonates: stillbirth, congenital syphilis
Haemophilus ducreyi	CHANCROID Both sexes: painful genital ulcers; may be accompanied by bubo
Klebsiella (Calymmatobacterium) granulomatis	DONOVANOSIS (GRANULOMA INGUINALE) Both sexes: nodular swellings and ulcerative lesions of the inguinal and anogenital areas Men: urethral discharge (nongonococcal urethritis) Women: cervicitis, endometritis, probably pelvic inflammatory disease
Mycoplasma genitalium	Men: urethral discharge (nongonococcal urethritis) Women: cervicitis, endometritis, probably pelvic inflammatory disease
Viral infections
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)	ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) Both sexes: HIV-related disease, AIDS
Herpes simplex virus type 2 Herpes simplex virus type 1 (less common)	GENITAL HERPES Both sexes: anogenital vesicular lesions and ulcerations Neonates: neonatal herpes (often fatal)
Human  papillomavirus	GENITAL WARTS Men: penile and anal warts; carcinoma of the penis Women: vulval, anal, and cervical warts, cervical carcinoma, vulval carcinoma, anal carcinoma Neonates: laryngeal papilloma

Table 2: Most common Sexually Transmitted pathogens and diseases they cause

Pathogen	Clinical manifestations and other associated diseases
Viral infections (continued )
Hepatitis B virus	VIRAL HEPATITIS Both sexes: acute hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer
Cytomegalovirus	CYTOMEGALOVIRUS   INFECTION Both sexes: subclinical or nonspecific fever, diffuse lymph node swelling, liver disease, etc.
Molluscum contagiosum virus	MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM Both sexes: genital or generalized umbilicated, firm skin nodules
Kaposi sarcoma associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus type 8)	KAPOSI SARCOMA Both sexes: aggressive type of cancer in immunosuppressed persons
Protozoal  infections
Trichomonas  vaginalis	TRICHOMONIASIS Men: urethral discharge (nongonococcal urethritis); often asymptomatic Women: vaginosis with profuse, frothy vaginal discharge; preterm birth, low-birth-weight babies Neonates: low birth weight
Fungal infections
Candida albicans	CANDIDIASIS Men: superficial infection of the glans penis Women: vulvo-vaginitis with thick curd-like vaginal discharge, vulval itching, or burning
Parasitic  infestations
Phthirus pubis Sarcoptes scabiei	PUBIC LICE INFESTATION SCABIES

(Source: WHO Manual for Laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus)